Pacers Trade Punches In Pop Up Series

A trio of Pop Up Series divisions went postward Monday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park for male pacers, and after a favourite struck in the opening divisions it was back-to-back longshots to cap off the opening leg of the event.

Thrilling Times, who was sent off as the even-money choice in his $12,500 division, got away third before quarter pole-moving to the top for driver Sylvain Filion.  Once on the lead, the gelding sailed through middle splits of :55.1 and 1:23.4 before using a :28.2 closing panel to win by 1-1/2 lengths over Bettorbeflyin in 1:52.1.  Taking home third prize was Good And Sweet.

Richard Moreau trains the six-year-old son of Mach Three-Thrillionaire for owners/breeders Gilles Plourde and Karen Kroeger of Chelsea, Que.  The win was the third of the season – and the 14th to date – for the career winner of close to $130,000.

Sometime Somewhere used his closing skills to post a 1:52 triumph for driver Trevor Henry, who used a four-win night to ease the pain of watching his Tampa Bay Lightning come up short versus the Colorado Avalanche in Sunday’s Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final.

The gelding, who was sent off at odds of 12-1, got away fifth and held that position for more than three-quarters of the mile.  Clever Character (:27.1) and Century Hannibal (:55.1 and 1:24) took turns on the lead throughout the mile, but it was Sometime Somewhere kicking home in :27 to win by a half-length margin over Clever Character.  Alex Hanover Fun was third.

Robert Jones of Stony Plain, Alta. owns the five-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere-Say Anything who hangs his harness bag in the barn of trainer Anthony Beaton.  It was the second win of the season for the career winner of $114,096.

Lyons Johnnyjr posted a 4-1 score in the final division in what turned out to be a minor upset for the duo of driver Louis-Philippe Roy and trainer Pam Forgie.

The six-year-old son of Well Said-Stolly Up Bluechip got away in mid-pack while race favourite Illgetmyown Thanks shot to the lead and carved out fractions of :27.1, :56.2 and 1:24.4.  He coughed up the lead late, however, and watched the first-over Lyons Johnnyjr fired home in :28 to win by a nose over Dragon Energy in 1:53.  Illgetmyown thanks faded to finish third.

Triple S Equine of Newton, Ont. owns the gelding who has manufactured a 3-0-2 record from 15 trips to the track this season.  The 12-time winner pushed his lifetime earnings past $233,000.

To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Woodbine Mohawk Park.